Syria welcomes Russian proposal to turn over chemical weapons

WASHINGTON — In a rapid and remarkable chain of events, Syria welcomed a Russian proposal to turn over all of its chemical weapons to international inspectors for destruction on Monday, and President Barack Obama, though expressing deep skepticism, declared it potentially a breakthrough that could head off the threats of U.S. airstrikes that have set the world on edge.

"Between the statements that we saw from the Russians — the statement today from the Syrians — this represents a potentially positive development," Obama said in an interview with NBC News. "We are going to run this to ground. (Secretary of State) John Kerry will be talking to his Russian counterpart. We're going to make sure that we see how serious these proposals are."

At the same time, the administration pressed ahead in its efforts to persuade Congress to authorize a military strike, and Obama said the day's developments were doubtless due in part to the "credible possibility" of that action. He stuck to his plan to address the nation Tuesday night.

But Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid cited "international discussions" in unexpectedly postponing a test vote originally set for Wednesday on Obama's call for legislation backing a military strike.

The president's network interview was one of six he did during the day as part of a furious lobbying campaign.

In the NBC interview, the president conceded he may lose his campaign in Congress. "I wouldn't say I'm confident" of the outcome, he said.

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The proposal by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey V. Lavrov in Moscow offered the first indication that a diplomatic solution may be possible to the international standoff that has evolved since the apparent chemical weapons attacks on rebel-held suburbs outside Damascus on Aug. 21 that the U.S. says killed 1,429 people.

Hours earlier, in London, Kerry sketched out a transfer-of-control scenario similar to the Russian proposal, then dismissed it, after being asked by a reporter whether there was anything that Syrian President Basher Assad could do to avoid an attack. "Sure, he could turn over every bit of his weapons to the international community within the next week, without delay," Kerry said. "But he isn't about to."

Lavrov seized on Kerry's remarks as an opening to present his proposal.

Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem immediately embraced it. And then in quick succession, U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon urged acceptance, British Prime Minister David Cameron said it was worth exploring and the French foreign ministry said it deserved close examination.

Former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said after a meeting with Obama that if Syria immediately surrenders its chemical weapons, "that would be an important step, but this cannot be another excuse for delay or obstruction."

Obama faces a decidedly uphill fight to win congressional authorization for the use of force, and Monday's developments could provide him with a way out of a messy political and foreign policy bind.

He suffered a reversal when Sen. Johnny Isakson, a Georgia Republican, announced he had switched from a backer of military action to an opponent.

In the House, Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, D-Hawaii, one of two female Iraq war veterans in Congress, announced her opposition to military strikes.

An Associated Press poll showed that 61 percent of those surveyed want Congress to vote against authorization of U.S. military strikes and 26 percent want lawmakers to support such an action, with the rest undecided.

Syria's suspected chemical arsenal

Here's a look at some of the chemical weapons that experts believe are in the Syria's arsenal:

Nerve agents

The most toxic of the chemical weapons, nerve agents affect the nervous system and are hazardous in their liquid and gas states. They can be delivered in missiles, bombs, rockets, artillery shells and other large munitions. The Syrian regime is believed to possess tabun, sarin and VX. Absorbed through the skin or inhaled, these agents can — within seconds or minutes depending on the dose — cause extreme runny nose and salivation, blurred vision, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and convulsions. Death is generally caused by paralysis of the respiratory system, which causes the victim to suffocate.

Mustard gas

One of the best-known chemical weapons, mustard gas is a blister agent that attacks the eyes and skin, causing severe blisters. If inhaled, it can also damage the lungs and other organs. While not usually lethal, exposure to mustard gas is generally debilitating.

The Associated Press

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